Chapter 2: Metal Riffs

Intermediate Metal Guitar Riffs: Take Your Rhythm Chops to the Next Level

In this chapter of Metal Riffs and Licks, you’ll learn 7 killer riffs that build on what you mastered in the fundamentals.
These riffs pull from a mix of melodic metal, thrash, classic heavy metal, and even death metal—giving you a broader feel for metal’s sub-genres and techniques.

Here’s what you’ll be working on

• Power-chord variations that create movement and tension

• Galloping rhythms that inject instant energy

• Tremolo picking for speed and aggression

• Hammer-ons and pull-offs that make riffs flow

• Riffing across strings to break out of the box

Each riff challenges your rhythm and helps you tighten your timing, improve accuracy, and start thinking like a songwriter, not just a player.

Once you’ve learned them, experiment:

• Change a note

• Move it to a new key or fretboard position

• Add a few notes—or simplify it
  There are no rules—just possibilities.

This is where your creativity kicks in, and your own sound starts to take shape.
The goal isn’t just to learn riffs. It’s to develop your signature rhythm style as a metal guitarist.

By the way, if you’re ready to go even deeper into writing, arranging, and mastering metal rhythm guitar, my Metal Riff Master course inside the Academy picks up exactly here.
It’s a full system for developing tight, pro-level rhythm chops and creating riffs that sound album-ready.
You’ll find that course—and everything else—waiting for you inside the Jason Stallworth Guitar Academy.

💬 “I tried another course that was all campfire chords—not my thing. Jason’s lessons had me playing real metal riffs within weeks. 100% best decision I’ve made.” — Dustan K.